EQUIPMENT HISTORY:
Everything I am describing below is IMPORTANT, read it please!
This amplifier is part of my "collection" of all things audio, both professional and consumer gear. I like to listen to all types of audio equipment, look inside and see the build quality and just appreciate the engineering skills (or lack of) in the early days of audio equipment.
Since around the mid 1990's this amplifier has been sitting in the workshop area of my previous audio post production business, it's purpose was a general "backup" amplifier for general listening although it didn't get a lot of use as we had the pro gear (Alesis etc) providing most of our audio requirements but liked to evaluate "consumer level" equipment from time to time - such as classic gear from Yamaha, Rotel, Sansui, Marantz, Technics and many others.
Well, my now wife says "for goodness sake, get rid of that mountain of gear" so them's my orders ... out they all go.
This equipment is old/vintage, around 25 years but still a great little stereo receiver amplifier that produces a good sound for low bucks and most importantly, is reliable!
THE CONDITION OF THIS EQUIPMENT IS CLEARLY STATED BELOW, BOTH COSMETICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY
There is no warranty, there are no returns (unless it is not operating as indicated in this description) - but I am very thorough and do not "gloss over" any issues I might discover!
YAMAHA RX-385 Stereo Receiver/Amplifier
Made in Malaysia
In production 1993 ~ 1995
Natural Sound series
Model: RX-385
Australian release, 240V with a standard Australian power plug
One switched power socket at the rear, Australian standard (so that other auxiliary equipment can be turned on automatically when this receiver is turned on)
Yamaha is well known for their audio products, this particular equipment comes from the era when many of their competitors went "yeah, we love plastic!" but Yamaha resisted this move and this unit is solidly built with an all metal frame, including the front panel. Unfortunately they did use plastic knobs but you can't have everything.
This amplifier particularly suits listening areas that are not too large, apartments are perfect. Nice clean sound, nothing fancy though. Simple to operate with two section tone controls (Bass & Treble) which respond well plus the usual Loudness control but this one is rotary, meaning you can vary the amount of Loudness applied (boost in the bass frequencies)
Remote control capable BUT THIS IS NOT SUPPLIED (missing, see notes below under TESTING)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
These specifications differ from many I have seen online, the information below is from the manufacturers manual (not fictional as seems to be often used by sellers)
Power output:
40 watts RMS per channel into 8Ω
You can expect slightly higher power output capabilities if your system is 6 or even 4 Ohm, the user manual does have this information and various measurement systems used (see below, extracted from the manual)
Minimum RMS Output Power per Channel
8 ohms, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 0.04% THD
Australia model..........................40W+40W
6 ohms, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 0.06% THD.......48W+48W
Dynamic Power per Channel
Australia model 8/6/4/2 ohms..........................68/75/85/95W
Frequency response:
20Hz ~ 20KHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.04% (at full power)
Damping factor: 80 (8 Ohm impedance)
Input sensitivity:
Phono 2.5mV
Line 150mV
Signal to noise ratio:
82dB (Phono), 105dB (Line)
Channel separation: 60dB (Phono or Line)
Audio Connectors (rear):
Phono Input (non-selectable type or load) with signal ground post
Auxiliary Input
CD Input
Tape Input
Tape Output
Front panel sports a nice large display area (medium level Orange - brightness is not adjustable)
This display shows which input is selected and extensive information when the Tuner is being used, including up to 40 memories!
The remaining front panel controls are pretty "stock standard" tone, balance, volume, loudspeaker A/B switching and that rotary Loudness control
I will also be supplying a very simple long wire antenna (actually it is quite short) that plugs directly into the FM antenna socket, just to get the new owner up and running on FM.
Dimensions: 435 x 126 x 298mm
Weight: 6.3kg (unpacked)
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Never been abused and it shows!
Case is clean, straight and unmarked by scratches, liquid rings etc EXCEPT the top of the case where I can see very very light scratches or two but these do not break the black coating and are not extremely visible ... very nice appearance overall.
Front panel is clean, all labels are unworn and easy to read
All of the black plastic knobs are undamaged and unscratched, with a nice tight grip on the pot shaft (also plastic, not metal)
Display front panel is unscratched
All rear connectors are bright and shiny ensuring good low level signal contact is made
No screws are missing - this is very important! Often if someone has been "playing around" with an amp, they will leave a screw or two out or worst still, mount the panels the wrong way around! Doh!
I always take a look around inside to make sure there are no signs of component "stress" or evidence that someone has previously had the equipment serviced or modded. I don't ever recall needing to have this receiver "looked at" but best to be sure ...
Very clean inside, no stress signs, no bulging electrolytic capacitors or worst still leakage! You may notice the grey around the base of the large filter caps, THAT IS NOT LEAKAGE but a type of adhesive Yamaha used to keep those caps secure to the PCB.
The electrolytics are MARCON's, the trade name used by Nippon Chemical Co, Japan (very well known caps)
The output transistor pairs are 2SC4467/2SA1694 mounted with pure copper bolts onto the heatsink. If you were worried about replacements sometime in the future, don't! These transistor complimentary pairs are still commonly available.
Overall you can see the efforts that Yamaha has made to lower the cost of electronics and assembly due to the intense competition in the audio market during the 1990's in particular. Extensive use of integrated circuits and patch ribbon cables, the days of laced cabling are now long gone!
It looks ALMOST like the day it came out of the factory, untouched and virginal.
TESTING:
Powers up fine, the light click of the loudspeaker relay (protection) can be heard.
I then tested the line inputs with a nice Marantz pro CD player I am checking out and all is great!
Phono input from the a Technics turntable I am looking at, again all good.
Tuner is working fine on both AM and FM, able to tune stations manually or automatically (stops at a station based on the signal strength)
I do feel the Orange front panel leans towards the "low level" brightness side, although I could read it easily in normal room lighting it is by no means bright! I double checked that it does not sense ambient light, it does not (turned off the room lights - no change)
I fired up my "test universal remote", programmed it for a Yamaha and after 4 code tries, bingo! The remote functions work fine, including that very nice remote operation of the large volume knob (a little freaky watching the knob rotate by itself!)
NOTE: I do have some Yamaha branded remotes for sale but I checked these and they do not "talk" to this equipment. Best bet is to get a quality univeral remote.
No noise heard when rotating controls, not scratchy or intermittent at all.
Running this amplifier for the last couple of days, barely gets warm at normal listening levels.
Australian power lead/plug is in very good condition (active & neutral pins only - they do not use a power earth on the plug), no "nicks" to the sheath
SUMMARY:
Nice low ~ medium power audio amplifier combined with an "adequate" digital tuner system. Whilst not in the audiophile class, this equipment still presents itself very well and is perfectly fine for non-demanding listeners who do not have "hyper sensitive" hearing (or think they do!) who just want to fill their home with good sounding music for a fair cost.
Please don't forget, that when shipping via my website (this one) I will ship FREE because it meets the conditions for shipping at no cost - this applies to anyone in Australia ONLY.
The free shipping is automatically applied in the checkout area of this website, just select FREE SHIPPING that will appear in the shipping options.
